Initial Thoughts - Adidas Boston 13
Been over two weeks since I made my "first run" post regarding my Adidas Boston 13. After this run, I was optimistic that these shoes could replace my now-retired Boston 10 as daily trainers.
I've now used them for all my base runs over the last 16 days (~15mi), and am disappointed to realize these will not be my next pair of daily trainers.
Fit and Feel
When I first put the 13 on, it felt like home. Despite being lighter and more breathable, it was very familiar feeling to my foot. Certainly found them to fit a little longer than the 10s, and the midfoot was supported, but not quite as strongly as in the 10s.
Initial feel suggested the Lightstrike 2.0 had a little more give out of the box versus the the OG Lightstrike, and could potentially require less break in. And first run suggested "new shoe, and kinda close to the old one". But more mileage highlighted a few areas where the Boston 10 worked well for me, and the 13 are not.
Subtle Differences
The stripe differences are not subtle. But there are a few things I wished I had paid closer attention to:
- The tongue gusset in the 10 starts approximately mid-heel and stretches forward, giving excellent support through the arch. In the 13, the gusset is just a tongue holder.
- This skinnier gusset has a tendency to feel odd while running. May improve with milage, but I have twice needed to stop running and stick my finger in to move the gusset as it was either curled or hitting a weird spot.
- The 10 does not have a thick tongue, but I never felt the lace bite with it as I do with the 13, even after changing laces
- Even for a midfoot striker, the narrower heel costs some ankle stability on impact
- Also for an underpronating midfoot striker, the sole cutout under the arch in the 13 gives the shoe more roll inward than the 10 (and pretty much any other shoe I wear)
- I had made the assumption Adidas had kept the drop on these at 8mm. After running 15mi, my sore calves and achilles confirmed that the drop was lower - nominally 6mm, but this pair feels like it may be under this
- Difficult to see in the photos, but the geometry is different where although the rocker looks prominent, it is a "late" rocker that will suit faster/forefoot strikers better
- The stack height is actually lower in the 13, down 4.2mm in the heel and 2.7mm in the forefoot.
I never understood what people meant when they described the Boston as "slappy" or "bricks" as I never found this with the 10. But man, were these bad boys slapping on the treadmill last night.
The lower stack is also detrimental to non-lightweight rigid foot midfoot strikers. The extra Lightstrike Pro benefits forefoot strikers, while heavier runners actually get less shock absorbency than they did in the slightly plumper Boston 10.
Conclusion
If I actually want to run the 10k I was planning to run in June, these have to go in the cupboard immediately. Having less stability, less shock absorption, and less drop than the 10 all are detrimental to me as a runner, and I am feeling the effects of this in my calves, hamstrings, quads, and knees.
Will I wear these again? Unsure at this point, and I may donate them to a local high school.
Are they nice shoes? Yes. Could they be a good daily trainer? Yes, for someone who is much faster than me, and who has normal pronation. But these seem more of a "serious" runners shoe now, and less of an everyman's versatile shoe, especially for heavier runners.